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ART, WINE, CANTUCCI AND RICCIARELLI IN SIENA

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Art, Wine, Cantucci and Ricciarelli in Siena

...a guided tour in the famous tuscan city of the Palio hourse races, the ancient medieval streets, the magnificent art treasure and the gastronomic discoveries of Siena

Duration: 8 days and 7 nights
Accommodation: 7 nights in 3*Hotel or B&B with breakfast

Short description: Together with the Discover Italy Now Tour Leader you are going to walk and discover wonderful surprises and a magical atmosphere that the charming tuscan city, Siena, offers with its good food…Piazza del Campo, Torre del Mangia, the magnificent Duomo, the aristocratic palaces, good wines and the delicious desserts cantucci and ricciarelli…
It is going to be an exciting fully guided journey to discover the artistic, historic heritage and the gastronomic traditions that ranges from ancient times up to present days.
It is going to be an unforgettable trip!
All our tour leaders have many years of professional experience in leading and assisting foreign tourist groups and can boast a great expertise.
They accompany you in this great adventure by guiding and act as a real cicerone during the whole duration of your journey.
They speak English, Swedish, Norwegian and other languages on request.

Information:

Trip to Siena
Closest airport: Siena Ampugnano, Intercontinental Airport "Galileo Galilei" Pisa, Amerigo Vespucci Firenze Peretola Airport, Grosseto Civil Airport
Period: all year round
Duration: 7 nights
Flights: to book separately from our site. You can find both scheduled standard flights and low cost flights. You receive booking assistance on request
Participants: min 6

Price with arrival at Siena airport: 775 euro *
Price with arrival at other airports: 825 euro*
*The price may be subject to slight seasonal variation
All prices include VAT
Breakfasts: all accomodation rates include a cooked or continental breakfast. Special dietary requirements need to be booked in advance

Included in the price:

Accommodation: 7 nights in centrally located 3* Hotel or B & B in double room with breakfast (supplement for single room)
Transfer to/from the airport
Welcome drink
2 dinners in restaurants
3 wine tasting and local gastronomic products
Free entrance to all museums and cultural events
Guided tour during your whole stay
Extra days: Yes
Supplement: If you want to stay in 4* Hotel

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"PALIO RACES" IN SIENA

A horse race which lasts less than 2 minutes, is the subject of debate and competition all year round; this is Palio, the greatest traditional festival of Siena.
Siena is divided into seventeen contrade, http://www.aboutsiena.com/Palio-races-of-Siena/the-contrades-of-the-palio-of-Siena.html, or areas of the city.
Sienese people "belong" first to a contrada and then to the city. Each contrada competes against all the anothers in the Palio and rivalry and competition are an integral part of the preceding months before the event.
Ten contrade are selected for each race, each contrada is assigned a horse, and the horses compete in “la corsa of Piazza del Campo” while thousands of people assist the event as spectators and participants, transforming the main piazza into a teeming sea of people.
There are two palio races each summer: one on the 2nd of July, and the second on the 16 of August. The festivities start three days prior to each Palio, although the anticipation is already evident weeks before. During this time, there are being organized banquets, parades, blessing of the horses and celebrations of all kinds. During these days the people can participate to events such as the assigning of the horses to the ten contrade, the first, second, third and fourth trial and “Prova Generale”, followed by a dinner of “Prova Generale” for each contrada.
Contrada colors are worn by Sienese people, and music, singing and drumming can be heard on the streets at all times of the day or night.
On the day of Palio, spectators are crowded into the piazza from noon on, willing to bear sun, heat and sweat to witness this traditional event. The calmer people generally pay for seats situated around piazza’s border, which are usually sold out eight months in advance.
The square/piazza is sealed off minutes before the Palio starts and eventually (after a few false starts), the horses are off and it is over before the dust settles.
The winning contrada feasts and celebrates for weeks afterwards, with banquets, replays and many discussions while the losing contradas can only hope that with much preparation, plotting and luck, they will fare better in the following race.
A wonder for all who see it - Palio is a unique phenomenon that arouses much emotion, an event that Sienese people maintain proudly as an authentic tradition that is a once in a lifetime experience to witness and enjoy.

DETAILED TOUR PROGRAM

Day 1: MEDIEVAL SIENA
PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, THE BEAUTIFUL TOWER OF MANGIA / TORRE DEL MANGIA, PUBLIC PALACE
Arrival at the Airport, welcome by the Tour Leader Discover Italy Now, transfer to 3* Hotel or B & B. Refreshing welcome drink and free time to relax or to begin familiarizing yourself with the enchanting atmosphere of Siena.
Late afternoon, together with your Tour Leader you are going to start walking and exploring the medieval Siena in the heart of the city. The seashell shaped Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia and the beautiful Fonte Gaia is your first guided tour in Siena.

Evening: enjoyable sienese gourmet, tasting traditional dishes and a glass of wine in one of the charming narrow streets around Piazza del Campo.

Day 2: THE MAGNIFICENT CATHEDRAL OF DUOMO, BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI, MUSEUM OF ETROPOLITAN WORK & CIVIL MUSEUM
Wine tasting and local food
After a breakfast with wonderful gastronomic products, including croissant and cappuccino, together with your Tour Leader, you are going to continue the discovery of another pearls and fulcrums of the art life and history of Siena:
Together with your Tour Leader you are going to continue discovering other anchors of the life of art and history of Siena: the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the magnificent Cathedral with its distinctive facade of black and white stripes of marble, the Archbishop's Palace with beautiful art works, the Museum of the Metropolitan work preserving paintings and sculptures of incredible beauty. From the second floor of the museum you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city.
Lunch at the restaurant Le Lodges.
During the late afternoon you are going to continue your tour towards the Civic Museum with the rooms where there are exposed frescoes of famous painters

Evening: Dinner and wine tasting in the old part of Siena.

Day 3: THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DELLA SCALA, THE ARISTOCRATIC PALACES TOLOMEI & SALIMBENI, BAROQUE CHURCHES, CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA CATERINA, PROTECTOR SAINT OF SIENA, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY FONTAIN: FONTE BRANDA
Wine tasting and local gourmet products
Wine tasting and gourmet local produce
Your third morning of your trip in Siena starts again from Piazza del Duomo where you visit the National Archaeological Museum and then the church of Santa Maria della Scala with the beautiful statue of the resurrected Christ.
Lunch at “Il Grattacielo”, a typical low-ceilinged restaurant and then you can enjoy a wine tasting and delicious cantucci at Enoteca Dolci e Cantine.The afternoon is going to be dedicated to historic palaces, ancient churches, including St. Catherine's Church, Siena’s protector saint and the most beautiful fountain of the city: Fonte Branda.

Evening: dinner in one of the oldest inns of the city and then a choice: free evening in a pub with live music or at "Chigiana Academy", famous sienese concert hall in rococo' style

Day 4 : LOGGIA DELLA MERCANZIA / LODGE OF MERCHANDISE, PINACOTECA NAZIONALE / NATIONAL MUSEUM, CHURCH OF SANT´AGOSTINO, MERCATO DELL´ANTIQUARIATO /ANTIQUES MARKET
Your guided tour continues with the medieval Siena…a tour of the elegant Loggia della Mercanzia, beautiful old buildings from the fourteenth–century, Palazzo Buonsignori with the National Art Gallery where great works of famous painters can be admired.
Lunch with sienese cuisine.
The afternoon is going to be dedicated to antique markets where you can buy antique furnishings.

Evening: Dinner at "Fattoria Toscana". A warm and characteristic environment that exudes an atmosphere of old times will be waiting for you.

Day 5 : SIENA’S COUNTRYSIDE BY THE OLD STEAM TRAINS TO DISCOVER THE LAND AROUND SIENA
Wine tasting & local food
The fifth day of your guided tour in Siena is going to take you by the Natura Train, old fashioned trains, through the countryside, south of Siena. It is going to be an itinerary to discover the natural beauty of Siena, continuing outside the walls of the city, where open green spaces of the famous tuscan countryside opens up for you.
You are going to travel by the old steam trains along Crete, Val 'd'Orcia, Monte Amiata and Val dell'Ombrone.
You are going to travel across a total of 140 km of beautiful sienese countryside stoping in old country stations as Asciano and Monte Antico. This is going to be a funny way to discover and appreciate the beautiful and romantic countryside of Siena.

Evening: Tasting of olive oil, gourmet products and wines of Siena at Enoteca "San Domenico".

Day 6: THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGE OF MONTERIGGIONI
SIENA – MONTERIGGIONI 21 km by train or by foot (depending on your preferences)
During the day you are going to join a trip to the medieval village of Monteriggioni, on the hills of Montagnola.You are going to steep into the green tuscan countryside and visit the historical center of this jewel.
In addition, you can enjoy a tasting of extra virgin olive oil, gourmet products and wines at Monteriggioni Castle which preserves a charming rustic style and from here you can admire the beautiful and suggestive countryside scenery.

Evening: Sienese dishes and atmosphere at "Osteria della Chiacchera".

Day 7: THE VILLAGE OF SOVICELLO
SIENA – SOVICILLE 13 km by train or by foot (depending on your preferences)
Your last morning of your guided tuscan trip is going to be spent a few kilometres from Siena.
You visit here, in addition to the historical center, the old town of Orgia and the Wood Museum, dedicated to the peasant testimonies.

Evening: free for shopping or walking.
End of the program dinner in typical restaurant in Siena

Day 8:
Departure to the Airport and Your Destination

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